Resources, prompts, and personal support for starting and leading writing groups.
Distinctives
A group of people who gather in person, write together, and read their work to one another, honoring each person and respecting every voice.
Anchoring values
- Honor. 100% dignity to each person. Full equality doesn’t have to be earned.
- Curiosity. We are students, explorers. Childlike with our receptiveness.
- Presence. Face to face, authentic, unhurried!
What do the communities have in common?
- Limited format of writing and reading
- Shared values, practices, and mission.
- Guardrails of Respect and Safety
- Free — No financial barriers to attend, all supplies provided
- Open — to the public, anyone is welcome
Where is there variation and diversity?
- Attendee demographics, location, themes.
- Specific (marginalized) community that is pursued (e.g., people facing homelessness)
- Details of food and drink.
- Events, community, culture, and adjacent activities that flow from each group.
Starting a group
We start with three groups of writing prompts, with three prompts per group. Writers then choose one or more prompts from each group and write for 10-15 minutes together. We share aloud with one another. Then we move on to the next group of prompts and write again.
A few simple constraints make space for everyone’s voice.
- Write freely. Write whatever you want. Be authentic.
- Read aloud and listen. Read your piece if you’d like. No pressure if not.
- Applaud and thank. Generally: no feedback, just gratitude for your sharing.
The groups are free. All supplies are thanks to your donations. There is no cost for attendees. No economic or ideological barriers to entry. Notebooks and pens are provided. Good coffee seems essential.
1 — The right location
The public library is one of the few remaining places where everyone belongs. That right location, wherever it is, should be accessible and welcoming and public. It helps if it is already a point of friction: the writing community will be meeting an unmet need.
Perhaps most important, the hosts of that physical gathering space should also share the vision.
2 — People who believe in it
The approach is simple: Write, share, write, share. But the process of establishing something from nothing is not easy. Early on, organizers may face challenges like low attendance and resistance from skeptics. It will require joyful endurance.
The launch team for a new writing community should personally need the group for themselves. Facilitators are also full participants—which makes each week’s gathering refreshing instead of exhausting.
Thankfully you don’t have to do it alone. If you see yourself in this story, we would love to start talking now.